I admit it. I love biscuits. I know, I shouldn’t, but who can resist. I tend to find myself buying frozen biscuits because they are easy to pop in the oven, but even the least experienced of cooks could tackle this weeks buttermilk biscuit recipe from our friend Jessi at Farmhouse Favorites. This would be a great treat for your family on Saturday morning or the perfect side dish to your upcoming Easter dinner!

Buttermilk Biscuits

2 cups of All-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons ice cold butter

3/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 475. Slice butter and place in the freezer.

Sift the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork until it looks coarse, like sand. Add buttermilk. Continue to cut the dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and gently bring together. Gently press the dough into a rectangle until it is between 1/2-3/4 inch thick. Use a floured round cutter and cut biscuits. Place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes. Remove from freezer and place on parchment paper on a baking sheet so they are touching. Bake for 20 minutes.

Farmhouse Favorites, tying tradition back to the good old days one apron string at a time.

Jessi Maple-Farmhouse Favorites

Following in the footsteps of her ancestors, Jessi, momma to three kiddos, enjoys country cooking because it is inexpensive and the ingredients are easy to find. Her goal is to get families out of the drive thru window and back to the supper table.

I have a question about lying. I have caught my husband in a few “white lies” lately and it’s infuriating. If he didn’t take the books back to the library or forgot to deposit a check, why doesn’t he just tell me? It’s pretty easy to figure out he lied when I get a late notice from the library or see that the money isn’t in our account. I don’t know how to handle this. It seems really immature and I feel like his mother when I have to ask if he REALLY did what he said he would do. HELP!

GRAY: Well, first I’d check to make sure it’s not simply his nature. Has he always been the forgetful type? Sometimes we all assume we’ve done things only to find we haven’t, so best to make sure this is a change in his behavior instead of just how he is.

When I have bigger things on my mind, whether it’s finances, job status or the future of my family, it’s easy to have the small stuff sneak up on me.

My mind drifts while I’m pondering things and that trip to UPS to get a package delivered gets overlooked. I don’t lie about it, but I could see how I might have convinced myself I did take care of the task while my mind was occupied with more pressing matters.

Certainly, I may be inclined to lie if my wife constantly hounded me about why I couldn’t get to UPS on time and then stayed on my back about it afterward. I’d lie because she would be making the simple stuff more important that it deserves. I’d lie about it because I’m an adult and I don’t need to be treated like a child who forgot to put his toys away, so there might be some resentment building.

I’d feel badgered and probably wonder why she makes such a big deal of the small stuff when it’s clear to me that there are bigger fish to fry. Probably more to the point, I’d wonder why – if these things are so important – that she can’t take care of them herself. I mean, if she has the time to make a big production about how I can’t do these things, why can’t she take a few minutes and help me instead of treating me like an imbecile?

And if I was getting the third degree for stuff I consider pretty petty, I’d wonder how much my wife really cared about me. If she doesn’t trust me with something as insignificant as making another trip to UPS, then how concerned is she about anything else?

If it was me, I’d wish she’d show some concern about what was making me so lax about the small stuff instead of seemingly being unable to see past the small stuff. Lots of issues can make husbands despondent or unconcerned and I don’t know of anyone who would deliberately lie about such trivial matters unless something larger was overshadowing the conversation.

MICHAEL: Two reasons for this come to mind.

First, he must feel it’s easier than listening to you complain about him not doing it and treating him like a child. Second, he’s too lazy to have the discussion about why he didn’t do it.

When you say you “feel like his mother” he probably feels like you’re his mother too. Granted, he should be able to handle routine tasks without being followed up on, but sometimes we forget things.

If you treat him like a child when that happens, you can expect some childish behavior back.

On the second note, he may just find that the discussion/argument about him not doing the task simply is too emotionally taxing. Especially if you make a big deal about it.

If you hit a dog enough times, he’ll shy away every time you raise your hand. So if you harass him each time he forgets to do something he’ll find away to avoid punishment.

You may have to just put up with the fact that your husband can’t be depended on for certain tasks and learn to do it yourself. Either way, you should probably look at how you address him when these things happen and don’t make it a punishment when he does something wrong. Once you stop doing that, he’ll have little reason to lie.

MAVERICK: If he’s the sort of guy who finds $20 bucks on the ground and doesn’t try to find who lost it; or who spots an error on a bill in his favor and keeps his yap shut; or lied on his income taxes to help pay off your car — newsflash, he’s a liar.

They’ll always lie to cover their butts. Welcome to your new reality.

But, if he’s not a liar by nature and this is really a new behavior, I think you need to look at yourself first here as the possible cause.

I’d say your adult/child or mother/kid analysis of the situation is dead on. More importantly, the inequality in power in your relationship. You say is goof ups “infuriate” you. Is that a normal reaction to a guy who brings home the wrong dishwasher soap?

Kids lie for a lot of reasons but mostly it’s to avoid instant consequences because they have little real power in the dynamic.

Here’s how it works.

First, if you’re a kid and not caught in the lie in the first place, you’re golden. Remember Ralphie in A Christmas Story – all kids know its better not to get caught. Second, if you do get caught in the lie, it’s likely worth it compared to the nagging and other stuff you were set to get if you were honest.

As an aside, I wonder how much he asks you to do? How many errands to you run for him?

Sometimes men become the unofficial gophers of families. Some of us like it. Others not so much.

So, I may be going out on a limb here but I’d say he’s lying, even though he knows you’ll find out, because he simply doesn’t want to deal with you for as long as possible.

Why? He feels powerless and this is his way of fighting back. Granted it’s a sissy way but that’s what he’s doing.

He feels like he can’t tell you no when you have him do errands and he equally feels like he can’t tell you the truth when he fails to do what he said he’d do for whatever reason. Why? See the choice use of the word infuriate in your question.

He’s afraid of you but not that afraid of you. You have him in the sweet spot where he’s passive-aggressive enough to lie to you but not so scared he’ll do what you want out of pure terror.

Sure he can run simple errands. He just doesn’t want to.

So, I would suspect, all things being equal, that he gets griped at a lot, and by you. You likely nag him about the errands you send him on. When he brings stuff home it’s likely the wrong thing because you didn’t give him enough info to begin with and he gets hammered again. And you likely don’t thank him when he makes any effort at all.

The bottom line is he’s likely acting like a little kid here because you’re standing on his neck.

Nothing can be as belittling and emasculating than watching a wife tear into her husband for some errand-based misdeed – be it he didn’t get the right toilet paper to he showed up 15 minutes later than expected with the butter.

I’ve seen it happen to guys I don’t really even care for and I end up feeling sympathetic.

So for the sake of your relationship, stop acting like his mother and ask him to do stuff but keep off his back about it. If he fails to follow through or deliver, mention it and drop it. If he continues to not do simple stuff without you on his back, maybe stop asking him to do stuff all together for a while to give the relationship a chance to reset.

And if it keeps up, do the errands yourself, or is your time more valuable than his?

We have to take a minute to brag and give major kudos to business partner and friend, Jeremy Huse. Jeremy Huse Photography was one of the first businesses we called when we decided to launch Southwest Missouri Moms. We knew we needed photos and knew Jeremy was just the man for the job. Not only is Jeremy super fun to work with–he has great ideas and is always looking for the latest trends in photography.

Take a minute to get to know Jeremy. We think you’ll like what you read. We know we do!

Where are you from and how long have you lived in SWMO?

I was born and raised in Cassville. I was actually one of the last babies born at Cassville Hospital. Cassville is still home!

Describe your typical day:

Usually up with my wife around 6:30 am to start the day. Mornings consist of placing orders from the previous day then check emails and social media. I usually try to teach and/or learn something new from the constantly changing photo industry. I have several resources that I use to become educated and grow as the industry changes. Early to mid afternoon I prep for shoots. Most, if not all, of our shooting is done in the mid-afternoon to evening. If I have no shoots planned, I spend my time with family.

How long have you been a photographer?

I am in my eighth year as a photographer. This is my second year as a full-time photographer.

How would you describe your style?

Very relaxed and laid back. We consider all clients family and want them to feel comfortable, no matter the situation. We use both natural light and ﬂash photography to ﬁt the needs of our clients depending on the situation.

Where is your favorite place to take photographs in SWMO?

There are many beautiful locations. I’m not sure I can name just one. I love to shoot at sunset. Each day provides something different at that time and that sets our photos apart from others.

What is the most enjoyable thing about being a photographer?

The smile. Hands down. It’s the joy you can bring to someone in delivering a ﬁnished product–creating a family portrait that will last forever, or a high school senior celebrating graduation, to capturing a child as they grow. In the end, you have memories and the photographs to take you back to that time.

What is the most challenging part of being a photographer?

Keeping up with the industry. Fashion, trends and the ever-changing world around us. Technology also plays a huge role in this business and is always changing.

What is your current favorite photography trend?

Composites for sure. You can put anyone anywhere! I will photograph the subject and them place them in a background digitally. This makes virtually anything possible and I think it’s the future of photography.

About how many images do you take during a shoot compared to how many you show your client?

That totally depends on the session. Sometimes with children we may shoot several and only have a handful to show. As a general rule for children and families, I shoot 75-100 and show 40-50. High school senior is usually double that.

What advice do you have for moms in regards to taking their own snap-shots?

Patience! Photographing your own child or children is tough! I try bribery, but it doesn’t always work. If I had one tip, it would be to bring someone along that they know, but not someone they see or spend time with on a daily basis.

What should parents consider when searching for a professional photographer?

Style and reputation. You mainly want to choose a photographer based on their style, ﬁrst and foremost. If you don’t like their style, you’re not going to like your photos. Then look for reviews and ask around. Don’t be afraid to call a photographer and ask for references. I have never had this happen but would be glad to give them!

Photo credit: Jeremy Huse Photography. Like what you see? Click here to see more.

Now that the weather if finally Spring like. It’s time to talk about Spring Makeup trends!

First, all of the stores have started releasing their Spring lines, which means that you can pick up warm, cozy sweaters for super cheap right now. And second, you can start experimenting with the new spring beauty trends anytime.

Let your hands do the talking, or more of a whisper really, with a nude nail polish that blends with your natural skin tone. Of course, there is no universal “nude” so it may take a few minutes of exploring in the nail polish aisle, but here are a few of my favorite hues:

For fair skin, Don’t Pretzel My Buttons by OPI Nail Lacquer.

For medium skin, Royal Blush by Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure.

For dark skin, Hot Cocoa by Essie.

If you like a little more volume from your nails,negative space manicures are hot right now and super easy to DIY with a little tape.

Nude lips are always on the list of what’s in, but are highlighted this season with a natural face, which was very popular on the Spring runways. The good news is you don’t need to invest in any new products to pull this off and it’s especially convenient for you Super Moms.

The trick to the real natural look (not the one that requires more time and make-up than your prom look did) is good skin maintenance.So, exfoliate regularly and moisturize religiously. If you haven’t switched to a night time cream or mask for the winter months, now would be the time. Okay, so that’s one thing to buy, but you’ll thank me!

Time to look to the brighter side of Spring by adding a purple eye shadow to your regular routine. The e.l.f. Essential Flawless Eyeshadow palette in Party Purple has every color and step you need to try out this new hue and is only $2. Two! Dollars! And it’s labeled step by step for the most amateur of us.

Still a fan of neutrals but want to mix it up? Black liquid eyeliner flipped up on the edge will add some whimsy to your eye makeup. Skip the bottom eyeliner and let your adorned lids get the attention to be on trend.

Prep your pucker because bright, bold lip colors are here! Usually paired with a very neutral face and eye, wearing a lip stain or cream in berry will be a show stopper. Hues range from bright, playful raspberries to somber, deep blackberries.

This is one of the times you need to choose based on personality, I think, but try some samples, because subtle tones that pull blue or yellow can make a huge difference based on your skin tone. Leave the edges soft, i.e. no liner, but keep the color from running by using a lip primer, which, I found in the e.l.f. section for $3. I can’t even…

Andi Douglas is a mama of three who loves to play with make-up. We’re lucky that she shares her beauty tips, tricks and finds with us here. If you’ve got a question for Andi, contact her at mamas@nwamotherlode.com. She can also answer your hair questions.

Yes, we do love a little celebrity gossip but we also know it’s not cool to do something we teach our kids NOT to do. It’s never okay to indulge in stuff meant to humiliate or hurt another person. That’s why we only publish celeb news minus any mean stuff. Have as much as you want because this “dish” is all guilt-free.

Are you hooked on the breakout hit show called Empire? One of the show’s stars, Taraji P. Henson (who plays Cookie) took a big risk when she decided to move to Los Angeles with her son when she was 26. (She previously worked as a supervisor on a five-star dining cruise.) She said that she learned her work ethic from her parents. Her dad was a metal fabricator and her mom worked her way up to management in a department store. “I was raised to believe that if you hustle hard and work hard, it’ll pay off.”

Here’s an interesting little tidbit for those moms planning to take their daughters to see the new Cinderella movie. The star of the movie, Lily James, wore a gorgeous Elie Saab gown at the movie’s premiere on March 1st in Hollywood. She also carried the cutest little crystal-adorned clutch that actually looked like the clock that strikes midnight. And her shoes were possibly the best part. She wore Christian Louboutins that were custom made with crystal butterflies perched on top. They definitely have that magical glass slipper look. To see all the elements of her premiere outfit, check out the photo spread in the latest People magazine.

Congrats to new mama Carrie Underwood along with her hockey-player husband Mike Fisher. The couple welcomed their first child into the world, a baby boy named Isaiah Michael Fisher on February 27, 2015. Carrie and her husband made the big announcement via Twitter along with an adorable photo of their new baby’s tiny hands. She added this caption: “Tiny hands and tiny feet… God has blessed us with an amazing gift.”

We were sad to hear about the recent passing of actor Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock on Star Trek for many years. Although he was most famous for his role as a Vulcan, he has another important legacy that not as many people know about — the legacy of having been a wonderful grandfather. His five grandkids told Peoplemagazine that they have great memories of their fun-loving grandpa who took them out for rides on his boat and helped them fix things, set up aquariums and loved to tell them stories about his early days as an actor, too. They are quoted as saying, “He had an unbelievable memory. We were so lucky to have such an amazing grandfather.” Nimoy’s grandchildren are grown now and range in age from 22 to 30.